Bought from the store of my determination, I put on the glasses of observation and acceptance the moment I landed in Osaka. The Elderly and the young for some reason look cuter here, the food tastes more flavorful and I feel lighter on my feet and overflowing gratitude in my heart. I owe this feeling not to the country of Japan, its people, or its buildings, but to the perspective that I chose to embrace. These lenses have Allowed me to see beauty in all that is here. My head has been on a swivel from day one, absorbing all that is around me and saturating it with love. If you feel bored, Uninspired, or unenthused by your daily environment as most people do, change your perspective and it will change your world. What is The point of living if You are not in awe every single day? Dare to stare.
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It has been interesting for me to explore and play in this town of Kyoto, knowing that I am not taking time away from my studies, but rather learning about culture, anthropology, sociology, religion and philosophy in depth. Yes, I have homework that binds me to my seat and consists of reading and writing. However, these assignments are only ornaments to the tree of knowledge which grows everyday as I walk out my apartment door or visit an ancient temple. As my professor George explained in class: "The classroom is our lecture, and our field trips are our labs." I dare you to experience new places. You may be astonished by how much you will learn. Today marks my one week anniversary of being in Nihon! As a foreigner you are bound to come across many thing for the first time. Here is a list of some of the small and silly, yet significant firsts that are unique to my experience so far in Kyoto, Japan.
"Living in Japan is like learning how to live again." ~ Bailey(Pictures below) I am officially a resident of Kyoto, and am going to be for 3 months! I have settled in to my apartment in the heart of this harmonic yet bustling town. It is my first time living in a city and I am loving it. My peers and I have had ample time to explore our surroundings and go on "very long walks", most of the times in circles. Out of the places that I have visited, I can best relate Kyoto to San Fransisco. Kyoto is similar in the way that it is a large city with diverse neighborhoods; however flat, quiet, muggy, and with vending machines on almost every street and Japanese writing everywhere. I do not feel lesser because I am not Japanese, but I do feel like I have lots of catching up to do when it comes to how daily life is lived here. I have realized that observation is crucial when visiting a foreign country. Not only is it fascinating, but it is necessary to watch in order to learn. The customs here are very particular and trying to respect them is overwhelming. After multiple moments of embarrassment, I feel somewhat familiar with their ways. Despite our improvement, us Americans still have a long way to go in order to become a subtle addition to their organized flow. There is a correct way to do everything in Japan. For example: always use crosswalks and do not walk on a red light, even if there are no cars in sight, do not tip, do not answer questions with a direct "no", receive things with 2 hands, and if all else fails, end your interaction with a chipper: arigato gozaimasu (thank you very much), bow, and be on your way! The program that I am participating in is called Antioch Education Abroad: Japan and Its Buddhist Traditions. The group consists of 7 American students from different universities, one head professor (George from Greece) and one TA (Max from Santa Cruz). We will be studying Japanese religion and culture at a college nearby called Ryukoku University, as well as traveling to and staying in different monasteries in Japan. The end of our 3 month study period consists of a field research project where we delve into Japan on our own, working to become knowledgeable about our chosen topic. Heres to pushing comfort zones and gaining knowledge on a culture rich island such as Nihon! |
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